Mrs. Kimberly BeltRoom 705

Voicemail: 623-376-5274E-mail: Kimberly.Belt@dvusd.org

2014-2015 ABC’s Of Kindergarten

Office: 623-376-5200 Attendance: 623-376-5290

Welcome to Kindergarten!

Canyon Springs STEM Academy

42901 N. 45th AvenuePhoenix, Arizona 85087

Important Numbers

2014-2015 ABC’s Of KindergartenDear Families,

Welcome to Canyon Springs! I am pleased to take this opportunity to meet you and welcome your child to my class. A good learning experience is built on a cooperative effort between parent, child, and teacher. My expectations for conduct and standards for academic growth are high. I am dedicated to creating an environment that is developmentally appropriate for each individual student and where all students can become high achievers. With your support, we can look forward to a productive, creative, and fun year together! My hope is that all of my students will develop a love for school and become life-long learners.

I am excited to begin the 2014-2015 school year! I am confident that we will have a great year together and I cannot wait for the adventure to begin! This is my fifth year here at Canyon Springs and my fourth year teaching Kindergarten. I have been fortunate enough to teach both Kindergarten and Second grade at this wonderful school!  I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University.  I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to Arizona in 2004 to attend Arizona State University. I still have close friends back in Cincinnati and try to visit once a year. I am married to my best friend and love of my life Gage. I am blessed to have 2 beautiful daughters and we are very excited to be expecting a little boy in October. My daughter Aubrey is 3 and my stepdaughter Ella is 5.   I have loved spending this summer watching them change and grow before my very own eyes. We have 2 crazy dogs (Jake-Chihuaha Charlie-Chihuaha mix), a cat named Joey and a hamster named Cookie. Cookie is also our class pet.  When I am not busy working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, listening to country music, hiking, sipping coffee at Starbucks, reading, watching movies, and shopping at Kohl's and Target. It is my goal as a teacher to create a warm, nurturing, and inviting classroom while also holding high expectations for my students. I love the learning and growth that takes place during this crucial foundational year. It is my hope that this year will be a very exciting, challenging, and rewarding time for your child. I look forward to getting to know both you and your child throughout the school year. It is going to be a great year filled with fun, laughter, and a lot of learning!

Parent involvement is all about the children. Participation in your child’s education is proven to boost your child’s achievement in school. I am committed to treat parents as partners while keeping lines of communication open and focused on the needs of your child. Mutual trust and respect between parents and teachers is required to maintain a positive learning experience at any school. I believe that your trust in Canyon Springs is required to ensure your child’s success. I am available anytime to communicate regarding questions or concerns you may have. I can best

be reached throughout the day at my school email. You can also leave me a message on the classroom phone and I will get back to you as soon as possible. If it is an urgent matter the best way to reach me is through email as I am able to check this throughout the day and often do not have the time during the day to check phone messages.

The purpose of this packet is to familiarize you with my kindergarten classroom expectations. It is intended to provide information such as our class rules, discipline, and many other important points. To help ensure a successful school experience, students need to be aware of and understand all classroom policies and procedures. Read through the packet and note any questions and/or concerns you may have. Sign the last page and return it to me as soon as possible. Save the remainder of the packet for your future reference.

Once again, welcome to Kindergarten and the first year of your child’s educational journey. I am looking forward to a fabulous and rewarding school year. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely and respectfully,Mrs. Kimberly Belt

“Every child has a different learning style and pace. Each child is unique, not only capable of learning but also capable of succeeding.” – Robert John Meehan

School Hours – 8:15 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

** *All phrases in italics are school wide policies and procedures.

A is for:

General Information

Absences- If your child will be absent from school, please call the attendance line at 623-376-5290.

Attendance- A successful experience is the responsibility of the child, the parent, and the school. Your child's progress both academically and socially is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is key to success. Please try to keep vacations to weekends and holidays, if possible. So many things in kindergarten cannot be “made up” if they are missed. There are hands-on activities each day that will not be repeated.

Arrival – The Canyon Springs campus opens at 8:00 A.M. Drop-off location is at the main double gate at the front of the school. Students report to the kindergarten playground upon arrival. Teachers and other staff members on duty will ensure that your child gets to his/her destination safely. The first bell will ring at 8:10 A.M. We will line up and come in to the classroom to begin our day. The “tardy bell” will ring at 8:15 A.M. Students should be in their classrooms and ready to begin. Instruction begins promptly at this time.

Allergies- If your child has any allergies please make sure the school and I are aware of them. I especially need to know about food allergies and insect bite reactions.

Awards- We will have quarterly award celebrations within our classroom to celebrate various accomplishments. Information will be sent home in advance if your child will be receiving an award.

B is for:Birthdays – Birthdays will be celebrated in class by special recognition and singing. Your child will also receive the ‘birthday bag’ to journal about his/her special day. Food will no longer be permitted into our classrooms for individual student birthday celebrations due to the large number

of students at Canyon Springs with life threatening food allergies. We truly appreciate your understanding and support while we ensure the safety of our students. However, students may bring in a book to share or donate to our class. Students with summer birthdays can choose a day in May, or perhaps, celebrate on the birthday of a family member; just let me know what you prefer. Look for more information to be sent home as it nears your child’s birthday. Your child will also receive the ‘birthday bag’ to journal about his/her special day.

Book Orders – Each month I will send home a Scholastic Book Club order. This is a great way to purchase books at fantastic prices. We earn bonus points for every dollar spent, which I use to add books to our classroom library. Please make checks out to Scholastic Book Clubs. Delivery of book orders is generally two weeks from the date the order is submitted. Ordering online using your

credit/debit card is also a great option. For every online order made, the classroom will receive a free book! To place your book order online go towww.scholastic.com/clubsordering and use the activation code: GV86Q.

Backpacks- To help your child carry messages and information to and from school, you are asked to provide a backpack labeled with your child’s name (preferably no wheels, due to space). Please have your child share the contents with you daily.(Please no toys in the backpack).

Bucket Fillers- Along with our Character Counts traits/Core Virtues, we will build a classroom community with the use of a wonderful book called Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. It teaches us that everyone has an invisible bucket that holds our good feelings and good thoughts about ourselves. When our bucket is full we feel happy and when our bucket is empty we feel sad and lonely. Bucket fillers do

things that fill others' buckets. Filling a bucket is as easy as using good manners or smiling at someone as you pass by. People fill their own buckets by filling others' buckets. Essentially, it’s nice to be nice. Bucket dippers are bullies. They think they can fill their own bucket by being rude or mean to others. By dipping out of others' buckets they are also dipping out of their own. A bucket dipper's bucket is never full. In our class we will focus on various ways to be a “bucket filler” and celebrate the little acts of kindness we see.

Breakfast- The cafeteria serves breakfast from 7:45- 8:10AM each day. The cost of breakfast is $1.25. Please see menu for daily choices. *Students must stay in the cafeteria until the 8:10 bell rings. There are no teachers out on duty in the halls or on the playground until this time.

C is for:College and Career Ready (Common Core) State Standards- All instruction is planned using these standards. For more information, please go to: www.ade.az.gov/standards/contentstandards.asp Our kindergarten teachers follow the Arizona State Common Core Standards when planning instruction. You may access these standards at http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/common-core-state-standards/.

Class Website – I have a homepage that can be found under the staff websites tab on the Canyon Springs website or simply go to www.dvusd.org/cs-belt . You can visit our class website to learn about class news and events, find resources, and much more. It is a great way for all of us to share information. The page will be updated monthly with current standards being learned, upcoming events, and pictures of us learning.

Centers/Work Stations- The best way for students to learn is through active engagement. Our classroom is set up in learning centers and work stations. I carefully plan the activities in each center to develop skills and meet the needs of all students in the class.

Classroom Volunteers – Volunteerism in any form is greatly appreciated at Canyon Springs School. Deer Valley Unified School District requires all school volunteers to take the DVUSD Volunteer training course offered throughout the year (if you have taken this in previous years, you are all set).

Volunteers must set specific dates and times with teachers. It is imperative to establish an important role for the volunteer without interrupting the learning environment. Parent volunteerism in the classroom during the school-day varies based on need, teachers, and grade levels.

“Basic Training” is a “must have” for all individuals, including parents, who donate time and/or services in schools or with students on a regular or reoccurring basis, or who plan to attend a class fieldtrip/party. This one-hour training session is required by the school district. (If you attended the training in a previous year, you need not repeat it.) Sessions are held throughout the school year at the district office and various campuses. You may attend training at any of the training sessions. Registration is not required. For more information and a schedule of date/time visit https://www.dvusd.org/pages_parent_student/volunteers.htm.

I will have many opportunities for volunteers to help out in our classroom during literacy centers, times of assessment and special days. If you are unable to volunteer in the classroom there will also be opportunities for you to help out by doing things at home or by copying materials. Look for more information to come home in your child’s Take-Home Folder the first few weeks of school.

Communication - A key component to your child’s educational success is the home/school connection. It is important for us to work together to give your child the greatest opportunities to excel. I am always happy to discuss any concerns or answer your questions. Please feel free to contact me by telephone at 623-376-5274 or e-mail at Kimberly.Belt@dvusd.org. Please allow 24 hours for a response to emails. However, I try my best to respond to them by the end of the day. You may also write a note and put it in your child’s Daily Take-Home Folder. If you have an issue/concern that you would like addressed, please refer to the Boulder Creek Region Schools Communication Protocol as a reference for whom to contact.

**Please schedule specific times to meet with me, as we need time to communicate effectively. I often have professional duties directly before and after school hours.

Please understand that I will not be able to meet or discuss issues while I am teaching or supervising children.

Cafeteria and Playground Rules – We want everyone to be safe on our campus. Please look the Canyon Springs Expectations Matrix included in your welcome folder. Discuss them with your child and see that he/she understands their importance. We will also spend time reviewing these expectations each day.

Conferences - Conferences are held twice a year (October-parent/teacher and February-student led). During this time, we will be discussing your child's accomplishments, strengths, and overall progress as we review your child’s individual data notebook.

Computers- We are fortunate enough to have two computers in our classroom. We use a variety of age appropriate programs that reinforce Math, Science, and Reading skills. *Please remember to sign and return the ‘Internet User’ permission form found in the beginning of the year packet, allowing your child supervised access to the Internet. We will also have weekly computer lab time where we will practice computer skills, explore websites/games, and publish our writing pieces with our 2nd grade buddies.

Character Wolf- Each day, I will choose 1 child to take home our classroom ‘Character Wolf’ for displaying any of the Pillars of character/core virtues. Along with the stuffed animal, a note stating what your child did will go home. Please return the wolf the next day, so it can be sent home with a new child.

D is for:Differentiation- Because all children are unique and special, they may be at many different instructional levels. It is my responsibility to take each child from where he or she is to a higher level, therefore, students may be learning concepts different from his/her peers. You can be sure your child’s individual needs will be met.

Dismissal – Kindergarten dismissal is at 2:50. Promptly pick up your child at the front gates at the designated time. Please park your vehicle and walk up to the gate. Kindergarteners will not be allowed to enter the parking lot alone. If an older sibling is picking up your child, he/she will be supervised at the front gate until 3:00 P.M. Bus riders and after-school care will be supervised by a teacher/staff member.

Discipline- My philosophy of discipline is based on the belief that children need affectionate care and firm guidelines within a flexible structure. To establish good order and help children learn self-control, the children will be guided to respect themselves and their peers through specific directions and positive reinforcement.

Students are expected to respect the rights of others and to conduct themselves in a safe and orderly fashion. Their behavior should be such that it does not promote harm to themselves or to others.

All District Rules will be adhered to at Canyon Springs School. Please refer to the DVUSD Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. We believe that students must treat others with the same respect with which they are treated by the adults in our school. We also believe that student’s actions, dress, possessions, etc., must not cause a problem for themselves or anyone else.

Disciplinary action is taken in situations involving students who do not follow conduct guidelines. Please refer to the school-wide behavior expectations found on the Canyon Springs Expectations Matrix at the back of this packet (3 minors = major).

If the teacher or the principal feels that a student’s behavior is continually causing problems, the parents will be informed and asked to work with the school toward a solution.

Canyon Springs School has adopted a school-wide plan that will encourage students to make good choices and develop good character. We will be using a program called Core Virtues. Each month we will focus on and learn about one of the core virtues. The monthly virtues are as follows: Aug- Respect and Responsibility, Sept- Diligence, Oct- Compassion, Nov- Gratitude, Dec- Generosity, Jan- Courage, Feb- Loyalty, Mar- Forgiveness, Apr- Hope, and May- Heroism. More information on core virtues can be found at www.corevirtues.net.

We use a plan in our classroom that compliments Core Virtues. After choosing our classroom rules together as a class, we will discuss this plan. It is a more positive approach to discipline and it focuses on what the right choice could/should be, rather than what the “wrong” choice was. This system helps students take responsibility for their own behavior in the classroom. Here’s how it works:

Each student will have their name written on a clothespin (clip). At the start of every day all of the students' clothespins will start in the middle on the GREEN section (Ready to Learn). Then, students will move up or down on the chart based on their behavior choices for the day.

When I see students showing good character or following classroom rules they will get to "clip up", meaning move their clip up to the next level which is PINK (Great Job) If the student continues to show good character they will move their clip up to the PURPLE level (Outstanding). Students that reach the purple level will also earn a special visit to our class treasure box.

When students are not showing good character or following classroom/school rules they will have to "clip down", meaning move their clip down to the next level which is YELLOW (Warning/Slow Down). No consequence is given. This is a gentle reminder for the student to think about his/her choices. If the student continues to not show good character they move their clip down to the next level ORANGE (Teacher’s Choice) and they will receive a consequence of my choosing depending on what their behavior has been. If the student continues to make bad choices they will move down to the last level RED (Parent Contact), which means the teacher will

contact the parent/guardian and choose an appropriate consequence for the student such as time out in a buddy class or loss of free choice centers on Friday.

Students DO have the opportunity to move up or down throughout the day so even if your child gets to yellow, orange or red at one point they have the CHOICE to change their behavior and work their way back up to green.

At the end of the day, each student will color a box on a behavior calendar to show what color their clip ended up on at the end of the day. Calendars will be kept in each student’s folder and sent home each night. If your child ended up on yellow, orange or red please take a few minutes to talk with your child. I see the best results in changing behavior when parents and teachers work together to find a solution. ALL ORANGES AND REDS MUST BE INITIALED BY A PARENT/GUARDIAN. Please be sure to check your child’s behavior calendar nightly. In the event of a serious infraction or for repeat behaviors you will be contacted via email or written note in your child’s folder. As an added incentive, students will be rewarded for consistently showing good character. The reward could be a trip to our treasure box or a simple coupon for extra computer time, a free book from Scholastic, etc. (Students will return their clip to green for a fresh start the following day.)

Daily Schedule- Please refer to attached class schedule

E is for:E-mail- You can contact me at school via my e-mail address atKimberly.Belt@dvusd.org I check my e-mail several times daily. If you prefer to call, the classroom number is 623-376-5274. Please leave a message and I will return it promptly(typically at the end of the day). Email is the best way to reach me as I always have easy access to it.

Extra Clothing – School is fun and exciting and sometimes we spill on or have an accident in our clothes. Please place an extra set of clothes (weather appropriate) in your child’s backpack, they can remain there for the year “just in case”.

English Language Arts/Reading- Our Reading Street curriculum is designed to encourage your child to become an independent reader through whole group lessons, independent center work, and small group time. Kindergarteners are expected to be able to identify letter names and sounds. They are also expected to be able to distinguish sounds in different positions in a word and to blend sounds into words.

F is for:Field trips- Several on/off campus field trips are being planned that are both fun and educational for the children. Notes about field trips will be sent home several weeks prior to the trip. We plan on going to Tolmachoff Farm in October, The Wildlife World Zoo in

February, and the Theater in April to connect with our units of study. We make every

attempt to offer field trips free of charge. However, the trip may cost a small amount depending upon transportation costs and entry fees to the venue.

Footwear- Please have your child wear shoes that are appropriate for running and active movement. Cowboy boots, flip flops, or dress shoes, for example, might not be good for school activities.

‘Fun Fridays’- Friday during the last part of the day, our class will celebrate the great week with something extra special. Some examples are: reading with a buddy class, developmental stations, or playing games in the classroom. Fire Drills- Drills are held on a monthly basis throughout the year. All students are expected to walk quietly to our designated area on the field. We will practice and become familiar with procedures before our first scheduled drill. In addition, lock down drills are practiced quarterly.

Fostering Independence – This is a very transitional year for your child. I hope to help you in building an independent and responsible student. For this reason, I ask that you help your child organize and pack his/her backpack. I want your child to get into the habit of remembering/packing his/her materials/library book/poetry notebook, putting papers in his/her folder, and caring for materials. Please have your child be responsible for doing these tasks and carrying his/her own backpack to school and placing them in the appropriate place once arriving at the classroom. This will be a procedure that we go over daily for the first few weeks.

G is for:Guided Reading- Each day, I will meet with your child for a Guided Reading group during Literacy Station/Daily 5 time. Guided reading provides an opportunity for me to teach your child a variety of reading strategies he/she needs in order to become a fluent, independent reader. During guided reading, I monitor and evaluate each child's progress in small groups and in individual settings.

H is for:Hands on learning- I feel the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands-on activities. There are times when seat work is required and necessary, but for the most part, our classroom will be an active learning environment.

Homework- The purpose of homework is to reinforce skills being taught in class and build responsibility. A monthly homework calendar will be sent home at the beginning of each month. The signed calendar is due at the end of each month (The work may stay at home). The expectation is that your child is reading/being read to at least 15 minutes a night and studying

his/her ‘heart’ words. The most important assignment is reading every day . **Additional practice pages may be sent home throughout the month.

Research provides strong evidence that, when used appropriately, homework is essential for increasing and reinforcing student learning and achievement for course standards. Homework may be differentiated to the meet the needs of our varied learners. The intent of homework is to practice, extend learning, and provide opportunities for students to develop critical, independent study skills and self-discipline for their life-long educational journeys.

Hours of school- 8:15-3:00 (Kindergarten dismissal is at 2:50)

Handwriting- In Kindergarten, we use a variety of strategies to build fine motor skills as we practice letter formation. We will practice these skills in our Handwriting Notebook.

I is for:Illness- The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This helps to make him/her more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill. Children function more effectively in the class when they are healthy. If your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease (such as strep throat or pink eye), please inform me so that I can notify the school nurse and watch for other students who may be exhibiting similar symptoms.

Independent Reading- Because children learn to read fluently by lots of practice, they need plenty of opportunities to read independently. Sufficient time and appropriate materials are necessary to develop and strengthen reading abilities. By giving children time to read both at school and at home, we can work together to provide a literature-rich environment and a life-long love of reading.

J is for:Journals/Draft books – One strategy that will be used to help convey the vital concept that print conveys meaning is the use of journal writing.  In these journals, the Kindergartners combine their emerging writing skills with their drawing skills.  As the children are exposed to a variety of phonics and reading experiences, journal entries will move from drawings and inventive spelling towards more conventional writing.

K is for:Kindness- Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat all members of our class as well as others in society with kindness and respect. Hitting, fighting, name-calling, and making fun of others will not be tolerated.

L is for:Literacy Work Stations- During literacy centers/Daily5, children practice reading, word work, and writing skills while I work with small-guided reading groups. The station activities are designed to strengthen phonemic awareness, phonics/spelling, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, oral language expression, handwriting, and cooperation.

Lost and found- We have a lost and found box in the Multi-Purpose room. I ask that you label backpacks, lunch boxes, and jackets/sweaters worn to school. This will help us return a lost article to its owner.

Lunch- Our class will eat in the cafeteria from 10:50-11:20 each day. The cost of a school lunch is $2.60. If you would like your child to have the option of purchasing a la carte items (cookies, chips, etc), you must sign a permission form (included in this packet). If your child is bringing a lunch from home, please don't forget to label the lunch box or sack

with your child's name. Students are not able to warm food in a microwave or store food in a refrigerator at school. Lunch menus will be sent home at the beginning of each month. Students will be learning their school identification number to use when buying lunch. (This number should be in your school packet.) You may pay in advance by check; please write your child’s student identification number on the check. You may also register online at http://www.ezschoolpay.com with a debit or credit card. I highly recommend pre-paying for your child’s lunch card. Sometimes lunch money gets misplaced or parents get busy and forget to send it with their child.

M is for:Mission Statement- Canyon Springs is a leader in STEM education. All student needs are met through the integration of the STEM model, differentiation of learner aptitudes, and incorporation of the Systems Approach to Learning. Together, with our community, we prepare and inspire generations of learners to succeed in our global society.

Math- The Kindergarten mathematics EngageNY curriculum along with the Common Core Standards provides students with mathematical practices that help develop a positive attitude towards mathematics that will continue throughout their school career. Units include; counting and cardinality, operations and algebraic thinking, number and operations in base ten,

measurement/data, and geometry. In addition to our daily math lessons, skills during individualized Math Stations are practiced.

Media Center- We will visit the media center every week. The students are allowed to check out 1 book. I will remind you of our library day in the newsletter/website. Please make sure your child returns his/her book…he/she will not be able to check out another book until it is returned.

Medication – Please see the school nurse ASAP to ensure that your child has the medications he/she needs. Under NO circumstances is medication allowed in the classroom; this includes cough drops. If a child is seen with any form of medication, it falls under the no tolerance policy. Please see the DVUSD Student Handbook for more information on this and other policies.

N is for:Newsletter- I will be sending home a monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month. It will have important dates and information. Also included, will be topics/standards we are covering in class. Group emails will be sent out occasionally for reminders, etc…

Nametags – Keeping track of your child is an enormous responsibility that I do not take lightly. To deter any mix-ups, I will attach a nametag to every student’s backpack on the first day of school. It will note how your child goes home from school (i.e.; parent pick-up, after-school care, bus #, etc.). Tags need to remain on backpacks for the entire school year to ensure substitute teachers and other staff members on campus can assist students to their designated dismissal areas. Again, if any changes to transportation occur please notify me as soon as possible. I will not take your child’s word for it.

O is for:OK Folders (Organized Kids)- Your child will bring home his/her folder each night. Please return it each day. I will check the folders each day for notes, papers, or anything you need me to see. Please make sure these things are in your child’s folder (I will not look in anyone’s backpack for things sent from home). All papers will go home in this folder, so please check the folder daily and remove papers…they fill up quickly.

P is for:Parent Involvement- Participation in your child's education is proven to boost your child's achievement in school. I am committed to treat parents as partners while keeping lines of communication open and focused on the needs of your child. Mutual trust and respect between parents and teachers is required to maintain a positive learning experience at any school. I believe your trust in Canyon Springs is required to ensure your child's success. Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school. I will need volunteers in the classroom. I also need help running copies, making books, etc... Please find a time

convenient for you and volunteer! There will also be a variety of special classroom activities and celebrations throughout the school year. If you are only available to work from home, I can send things home to do. I hope that you can come and join in the fun!!!

Parties and Celebrations- We will have several class parties for different occasions such as Fall, Winter, Valentine's Day, and the end of the year. Please let me know if your family does not celebrate certain holidays.

Poetry Books- Your child will bring home a poetry book each Monday with a new poem pasted in it with an illustration drawn by your child. PLEASE read the poem each night with your child. The poetry books may stay at home in a safe place during the week, but they must be returned each Friday, so we can get the new poem added to the book. Enjoy reading these poems with your child!

PTSA- Please consider joining the PTSA. This is a great way to help earn money for our school. Check out all the special events planned for the year (calendar is in the beginning of the year packet).

Q is for:Questions- Many of you are new to Canyon Springs School this year, if you still have some unanswered questions, please feel free to call me at school 623-376-5274 or e-mail me at Kimberly.Belt@dvusd.org.

R is for:Report Cards- Report cards go home 4 times a year. These Standards Based reports reflect the progress your child has made toward various Kindergarten standards and uses a grading system that reflects the developmental nature of Kindergarten learning.

• 4 Demonstrates above grade level proficiency independently• 3 Demonstrates grade level proficiency independently• 2 Demonstrates grade level proficiency with support• 1 Demonstrates below grade level proficiency with support

S is for:Science- The focus of the Kindergarten science standards is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. Through scientific inquiry, concepts will be presented in Life, Physical, and Earth Science; including the study of the 5 Senses/Body, Plants/Animals, Life Cycles, and Weather. These areas will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach.

STEM- Each month kindergarten will have a STEM focus and culminating activity. The theme for each month is as follows:

Aug- Colors, Sept- Five Senses/My Body, Oct-OREO project, Nov- Pumpkin/Life Cycle, Dec/Jan- Weather, Feb- Shadows and Dental Health, Mar- Animals & Plants Where I Live, Apr- Taking Care of our Earth, and May-How Plants Grow.

Social Studies - The Kindergarten social studies standards explore American History, World History, Civics/Government, Geography, and Economics. The curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school, and community. Holiday celebrations will also be highlighted. Activities will help the children engage their natural curiosity for the world around them.

Star Student – Every student in our class will get the opportunity to be our “Star Student” for a week. I will send a poster home the Friday prior to his/her turn. I encourage parents, siblings, and other family members to help complete the poster. Children enjoy sharing their favorite ‘things’ with their classmates. Students will also have the opportunity daily to share a little about themselves with their classmates. When it is your child’s turn to be star student more information will be sent home.

Snacks - Each afternoon we will have a healthy ‘working snack’ to help nourish our little bodies and brains. I ask each family to donate a snack once a month, every month, for the duration of the school year for our entire class (20-26 children).Please choose items from the peanut-free approved snack list. Please send in the snack sometime during the first week of each month.

Specials- We are on a 6-day rotation schedule Day 1- PE (please wear tennis shoes) Day 2- PE (please wear tennis shoes) Day 3- Spanish Day 4- Music Day 5- Spanish Day 6- Art

T is for:Transportation – If any changes occur regarding your child’s transportation please notify me in writing/email or call the front office and ask them to notify me. Do not leave a message on my voice mail. I don’t always have time to listen to my voicemails before we go home. Again if any changes to transportation occur please notify me as soon as possible. I will not take your child’s word for it. If no written note/message is received, your child will be sent home by his/her usual method.

Thinking Maps- You will be hearing your child talk a lot about ‘tools for thinking’ that we will be using across the curriculum throughout the school year. The eight different thinking maps we will be using are-Circle Maps, Bubble Maps, Double Bubble Maps, Tree Maps, Brace Maps, Flow Maps, Multi-flow Maps, and Bridge Maps.

Take-home Bags- Throughout the school year, your child will have the opportunity to bring home a ‘take home’ bag as a school to home connection. Please find time to complete these activities with your child and return it to school. A direction sheet will accompany each bag.

Tardies – Instructional time begins promptly at 8:15 A.M. Campus gates will be locked for safety and any child that arrives after that time is required to enter through the office and obtain a tardy pass.

Tax Credits- Tax credit donations can be made specifically to a program or activity. Married couples may donate up to $400 and single individuals up to $200. Tax credits reduce your tax burden to AZ dollar for dollar.

Toys – Students are not allowed to bring toys (including stuffed animals) to school, unless it is their turn to be star student. This is a school policy.

U is for:Unique schedule- We will have at least one early release day per month for staff development. On these days, the hours will be 8:15-11:30 (Kindergarten dismisses 5 minutes prior to the rest of the school).. Please see our class website for these 'dates to remember'. I will also post these dates in the newsletter. A sack lunch is served on early release days (in the classroom). In class on these half days we will be focusing on a STEM activity that correlates with our unit of study.

V is for:Vision for Canyon Springs- Building collaborative, innovative, and inspirational

leaders in the 21st century.

Visitors- Canyon Springs has a safety policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in at the office and wear a guest badge. Canyon Springs welcomes and encourages family involvement and the presence of a guest badge will help identify visitors to all faculty and staff. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment.

W is for:

Wish list- Throughout the year, we sometimes need supplies above and beyond our classroom materials (such as egg cartons, paper towel rolls, etc..). These needs will be posted on the class website, newsletter, and/or email. Extra items that you think we might be able to use are always welcomed.

Writing- Our daily modeled writing program (Write…from the Beginning) will focus on the writing process along with the 6 traits of writing through daily lessons/mini lessons, and modeled writing. Expressive (personal narratives, stories, poetry, songs, and dramatic pieces), Expository (nonfiction writing that describes, explains, informs, or summarizes ideas and content), Functional (classroom rules, letters, experiments, recipes, notes/messages, labels, directions, posters, graphs/tables), Literary

Response (opinion/feeling about a piece of literature), and Research (simple class report where the teacher is the scribe) will all be introduced. Writing will be used across the curriculum in all subject/content areas. Providing a risk-free environment is paramount to your child's progress in writing. If possible, please provide your child with writing tools such as pencils, crayons, markers, and paper at home.

Water bottles- Please feel free to send a cold water bottle labeled with your child’s name each day. We do have a drinking fountain in our classroom that children are free to use throughout the day as well.

Website- Our class website is www.dvusd.org/cs-belt. Check it regularly to find information about special events, school news, curriculum, and to view classroom photos.

X is for:eXtra special and eXpectations- Every member of our class is Extra Special! I have high expectations for all the children in our class. I expect them to learn, to try their best, and to always act like Kindergarteners. Children who receive lots of encouragement in a supportive environment feel secure to try new things and take risks in learning. Kindergarten should be a fun place where all children grow and develop at their own rate and become the best they can be.

Y is for:Younger siblings- It is in your child's and the program’s best interest to have our parent volunteers available without younger children. This not only allows your full attention to be focused on the class, but also allows some special time between you and your Kindergarten child. Thank you for making childcare arrangements for younger siblings.

You!- Please remember that YOU are your child's first and most important teacher. No one can influence your child's life in the way that you can! You can help to make your child feel successful this year by

discussing your child’s school day with them. Ask questions like, “What did you learn today?”, “What did you work the hardest on?”, “What was the best part of your day?” or “What are you getting better at?” These questions cause children to reflect on their learning which in turn helps them remember new information. Don’t let them tell you “nothing.” Ask your child about stations, reading, or math work. The way your child perceives your feelings about his/her school and teachers will have a direct effect on how he/she feels about them. Show an enthusiasm for learning. It is contagious!

Z is for:ZZZZZ's- Make sure that your child gets plenty of rest. Setting and keeping a bedtime schedule is a wonderful gift you can give to your child. It will help him/her be alert and ready to learn each day. Don't forget to read a bookbefore bedtime!

Zoom- Sit back and watch your child's skills take off! You will be amazed and surprised at the incredible growth and changes this year.